Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-02
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, SEPT. 2. 1887.
A Business that is OverdOne.

A Business that is OverdOne.
One of the most remarkably brief
lives of an exceptionally vigorous news
paper is afforded in the career of the
Spokane Chinook, which came to a
close ON the 9th ult., after an exis-
tence of just three weeks. The paper
was in every respect worthy of liberal
patronage. 1t contained eight large
pages Of excellent reading matter, edi-
ted by Mr.. E. T. Wilson, a man of
large experience and considerable abil
ity, and what makes the occurrence
seem more strange, was published in
city that has been enjoying for many
months past regular Seattle" boom
in all sorts of realty. 1T is interesting,
therefore, to inquire into the cause Of
this somewhat anomalous result of
seemingly favoring conditions.
Chinook says, in its dying refrain,
that high taxes, enormous rents, an
inflated price for every convenience for
doing business, and close competition,
had rendered it impossible for the bus
mess men to extend it support in ad-
vertising patronage that would justify
it's publication; that goods were sold
for less profit at Spokane Falls than
At any other place in the Territory
that few. business houses, excepting
saloons, hotels and real estate dealers
were making money, large transient
population affording these a good pa
tronage. All this may be true, but
doubtless there are business men in
Tacoma and Seattle who will swear Ito
themselves) that the situation is pre-
cisely the same with them, and that
every reason given why the Spokane
merchants could not avail themselves
of the services of the warm-hearted
Chinook, applies with equal force to
them, when dollar or two month
is added to their general expense ac-
count.
Our own solution of the matter is,
that the newspaper field Of Spokane,
like that of every other place is limited,
and its full area was occupied by jour
mails meeting the wants Of the people so
amply that even a venture of acknowl-
edged merit was unsupported, and for
the same reason that the prudent CHAIR
oteer would leave his fifth-wheel by the
roadside rather than be encountered by
its weight. Few contrivances can fill
the place of . wheel when it is needed,
and fewer still are more worthless ex-
cept when bare axle is presented
around which it may revolve.
The tendency, at the present day is,
to multiply the number Of newspapers
far beyond the requirements of the
public. Every other man who has
learned the lay of the case in print
in Office imagines that he possesses
ability which will meet with ready
recognition soon as he can manage, by
hook or by crook, to obtain control OF
few fonts Of type and place himself
astride the /" editorial" tripod. His
"kit" il generally plastered with a
mortgage, held by some aspiring poll
tician, Who at the same time inserts a
ring in his nose by which he may be
easily led. It generally takes slavish
servitude Of many months to convince
the novice that be has mistaken his
calling and before he finds that
The charm dissolves, the vision dies,
Twas bat enchanted ground"
Ia the meantime he does not benefit
himself, and Injuries the community
BY diverting portion Of the patronage
small though it be-that might have
aidsd some worthy journal to become
IN elhcient aid to growth and devel-
opment.
Tho protector Of the Chinook, as we
have intimated, does not belong to this
Class Of mushroom journalists, but it
seems that nevertheless the people of
spokane possessed the rare discrimin-
alton for deciding that two newspa-
pers we'll supported were far more
efficient aid to material progress than
three, or . half . dozen, starvlings.
His rare ability would have made the
result only the moro damaging to his
competitors already in the field, and
the business of the city would have
been subjected to an excessive tax
without deriving any corresponding
benefit.
The Chinook was wise in beating a
mastery retreat when the signs of the
times prognostricated inevitable defeat.
THE bar Of Seattle lately presented
Mr.. James Mcknight with an elegant
ly engraved gold-headed cane, as testi-
monial Of their regard, ON his depart
ure for St. Paul, whittier he has gone
to assume charge of the Northern Pa
cific Railroad Co.'s legal business.
The presentation was made the occa-
sion for meeting of many friends Of
the gentleman, which were addressed
by Judges Greene, Lewis and others
who detailed in eloquent terms the
many sterling traits of character de-
veloped by long and active profession
a career that has placed Mr.. NJ. in the
front ranks. Few men present a more
striking example of what industry and
energy may accomplish, when united
with q recognition Of those cardinal
virtues which constitute the true and